Surabaya Zoo Surabaya Zoo troubles

Chlidonias · 19 Aug 2010

Zoo official issues dire warning about the treatment of animals at Indonesia's Surabaya Zoo | L.A. Unleashed | Los Angeles Times

All of the animals at Indonesia's largest zoo -- many of them critically endangered -- could be dead within five years unless strong action is taken to change the culture of neglect and corruption that permeates the facility, a zoo official said Saturday.

An endangered Sumatran tiger was found dead Saturday morning in its cage at the Surabaya Zoo, spokesman Agus Supangkat said.

The remaining 13 Sumatran tigers are being kept in dirty, cramped cages and are also at great risk, said Tonny Sumampouw, the chairman of the country's zoo association who has been tasked with overseeing the facility after the government took it over earlier this year.

In recent days, an African lion and an Australian kangaroo also have died, Sumampouw said.

He said hundreds of animals die every year at the zoo, and others suffer from hunger, stress and overcrowding. The 94-year-old facility was built under Dutch colonial rule on a 37-acre plot of land and currently holds 4,200 animals.

Sumampouw, who is running the zoo as a caretaker until a new director is named, blamed bad management and corruption for the problems.

"My assumption is that all those animals will definitely disappear in the next five years unless there are efforts to reorganize how the zoo is managed," Sumampouw said.

Many employees have been caught stealing meat intended for the animals and sometimes, in the case of rare species, stealing the animals themselves, he said.

He said fixing the problems "will be a big challenge" for the new boss.

A spokesman for the zoo's old management team, Agus Supangkat, said an average of 25 animals die at the facility every month, mostly because of old age or other natural causes. He said the animals are properly fed and cared for and that hygiene is well-maintained but acknowledged that some animals die from stress, especially the big cats.

"This zoo is very old and its cages outdated," he said. "They are like prison cells, putting stress especially on the big mammals."
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Internal row, poor enclosure blamed for deaths of animals | The Jakarta Post

Internal bickering has been blamed for a flurry of deaths at East Java’s Surabaya zoo, with 20 animals, including a rare Sumatran tiger and 13 young Komodo dragons, dying between June and August
this year.

The latest casualty was only the tip of the iceberg. Last year, 327 animals died, and 362 more died in 2008 at the zoo, which has been praised for having the most complete collection in Southeast Asia. It is home to 4,200 animals from 315 species.

Most of the deaths were said to result from different illnesses such as pneumonia, enteritis and malnutrition, as well as poor conditions inside the zoo.

The zoo’s acting head Tony Sumampouw said the zoo was established on Aug. 31 in 1916 by a group of animal-loving Dutch residents in Surabaya. It was named Soerabaiasche Planten-en Dierentuin, or Surabaya Zoo and Botanical Garden.

The Dutch residents, he said, had worked hard to raise funds for the zoo, which was initially
located in Kaliondo area in Surabaya before being relocated to Jl. Groedo in September 1917.

However, when the management was taken over by Indonesians, the local executives were caught up seeking profit from the zoo, he added.

“This [profit-making focus] has sparked extended internal conflict,” Tony said.

The internal row, which was first sparked in 1998, was also blamed for the death of two cheetahs, which were presented by South African President Thabo Mbeki in 2007 and had been living in the zoo for a year. The cheetahs died after being attacked by a Bengal tiger when they were released for mating.

The conflict culminated in 2007 when zoo executive Basuki Reksi Wibowo uncovered the sale of rare animals, including lions and white tigers, during the leadership of Stany Soebakir, who denied the allegation. Stany was replaced by Basuki in 2009 but Stany’s camp insisted he was the rightful zoo administrator.

Early this year, zoo management was taken over by a temporary management team, comprising members from the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Indonesian Zoo Association, Surabaya city administration, Surabaya Flora and Fauna Park Association and Surabaya Flora and Fauna Foundation.

The conflict may likely intensify after Surabaya Mayor Dwo Hartono urged the Forestry Ministry to hand the zoo over to the administration, which plans to convert it into a regional company, since the 15-hectare zoo is built on government-owned land.

Tony highlighted the poor condition of the zoo’s enclosures, despite the fact the zoo earns more than a billion rupiah in profits annually. Last year, the zoo earned some Rp 1.1 billion in profit.

“The conflict also involves a number of employees, who often held protests against the management’s policies. Frequent protests make the employees more familiar with the conflict with management than taking care of the animals,” Tony said.

The zoo’s animal keeper, Suladi, however, continued taking care of the tigers and lions despite the internal row. “I do my job out of my love and devotion to animals,” he said.

Supadi’s role involves feeding the tigers and lions. “The tiger will only roar when it’s hungry and attack when disturbed..,” said the man who also works freelance as a dog trainer to earn extra income.

Surabaya resident Danny Kurniawan raised hope the conflict would end. “Don’t let more animals die in the zoo. Such a situation will justify people wanting to keep them as pets. If a zoo can’t carry out its educational and conservation roles, maybe it’s better for the animals to live in the wild.”
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Kifaru Bwana · 19 Aug 2010

We could have a very lenghty debate on the subject ... but then it is what perspective you are coming from. The zoo in Surabaya does have quite a few old inhabitants/residents.

That said, corruption and disorganisation (more like slow progress) are not unfamiliar sights in Indonesian zoos. Overwhelmingly though this is a clash of civilisations between the old and the new ethic and hence heavily into the political arena (it is just which persuasion you feel more comfortable with ...).

The bottom-line here is that it is damn difficult to get really at the true bottom-line and truth of the matter here *****

Zoos Int · 12 Sep 2010

Here we go again ,who cares who said what and what happened to who .All these Indo zoos are the same ,littered with corruption and puffed out chests ...Ship us in to save these animals ,ive seen this for years & years .The truth is some where in the middle.The bottom line is these animals are dying while they all stand and protest or bicker.One has to sleep sometimes ,so out come the knives to make each other look inadequate at ones job .Its so simple to stop all this drama,education ,management and experience .Mmm,up to who's standards and who overseas you ask ...Its an international disaster that should be deemed as a Hannis crime .Ive seen more animals meet grizzly deaths in these zoos than i care to report.All i can say is we offer to help and put the zoo back on its feet .Get some very experienced vets in and start again .The offer would only be met with deaf ears and pretty smiles .
I must say when Bali Zoo had its problems ,Pak Agung welcomed us with open arms .Thats a huge success that these zoos need to follow.
I offer to this zoo our help if anyone can pass it under the right noses.This one cant be swept under the rug any more ......
Thanks Tony Greenwoods Peel Zoo Pinjarra Mandurah Rockingham Perth Western Australia - Natures Education Center for Koalas, Kangaroos, Birds, Snakes, Wombats and Reptiles

condor · 12 Jun 2011

edit Only realized how old this discussion was after I added the below short comment of astonishment. Sorry for that. Leaving the comment instead of potentially causing confusion by deleting it.

.... the death of two cheetahs, which were presented by South African President Thabo Mbeki in 2007 and had been living in the zoo for a year. The cheetahs died after being attacked by a Bengal tiger when they were released for mating.
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say what?!?!

Chlidonias · 8 Mar 2012

recent news items of the same nature:

Indonesia zoo giraffe dies with plastic in stomach - Houston Chronicle

6 March 2012

An aging giraffe at Indonesia's largest zoo has died with a large lump of plastic found in his stomach, causing concern among zoo officials.

Anthan Warsito, the spokesman for the Surabaya Zoo in East Java's capital, says the 30-year-old giraffe — named "Kliwon" — was sick for several days before dying Thursday. Giraffes have a life expectancy of 20-30 years, and Warsito says Kliwon's death was not surprising.

But an autopsy Friday found a 44-pound (20-kilogram) lump of plastic in Kliwon's stomach. The lump had a diameter of 23 inches (60 centimeters).

Warsito said Saturday the plastic appeared to be from wrapped food thrown by zoo visitors, and from garbage that had blown into his stall. Kliwon was the zoo's only giraffe.

Warsito said other animals at the zoo would be given checkups.
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Death-Ridden Surabaya Zoo Pleads for Cash | The Jakarta Globe

7 March 2012

The acting caretaker of the much-maligned Surabaya Zoo said on Tuesday that investment was urgently needed or the zoo might not have any animal left in as little as three years.

The zoo has been plagued by a string of recent deaths among its animals as well as charges of theft and sales of its animals by unscrupulous officials. In the latest incident, a giraffe died last week.

“Of course the animals will die if they are exposed to the heat and rain all day and night,” said Tony Sumampauw, the acting caretaker. “They can also be infected with diseases from wild animals like cats and rats. It’s no surprise some animals have suffered from tuberculosis.”

Tony said death and infection could be prevented if better spaces were provided for the animals.

The zoo had planned to build a larger open cage for giraffes, camels, zebras and several other animals, he said. Unfortunately, the zoo’s last giraffe died before the plan could materialize.

He said the new open cage, including a holding facility and corridors to check on the animal’s health, would cost billions of rupiah the zoo doesn’t have.

Now the ball is in the court of the Surabaya municipal administration, which Tony said needed to immediately set up a regional company specifically to manage the zoo. Under the current management, it would be difficult for the zoo to grow, he added.

“Keeping animals cannot be accurately budgeted. If an animal gets sick, money should be available to treat the animal,” he said.

If the zoo were managed under an office of the municipal administration, he said, a much lengthier and complicated process involving a series of meetings would be needed for the disbursement of any funds.

Baktiono, a city councilor, said the local legislative council had already given the green light for Surabaya municipal authorities to create a state enterprise to manage the zoo.

A state company, he said, could be more professional than the current system, he said. “We will be able to see the professionalism of the director through a fit and proper test before he is given the zoo to manage,” he added.

The Surabaya administration had earlier pushed for the zoo to be taken over by a unit of one of the city’s many offices, but the idea was vetoed by the Forestry Ministry, which is in favor of creating a state enterprise to manage it.

The ministry revoked the zoo management’s license in August last year and placed the facility under a new team, headed by Tony, from the Taman Safari park in Bogor, following a series of animal deaths.

The zoo had lost a Sumatran tiger, an African lion, a wallaby, a Komodo dragon, a babirusa cub, a Bawean deer, a crocodile and several birds in the space of just a few weeks. Three Komodos also went missing and were believed to have been sold into the exotic pet trade.
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Kifaru Bwana · 9 Mar 2012

I am glad finally the state of the zoo is receiving some attention. I do feel the zoo has more potential of positive developments since TS staff have stepped in. An independent corporation and/or State funding would seem the best move for Surabaya Zoo.

Chlidonias · 13 Mar 2012

The Associated Press: Nightmare zoo in Indonesia shaken by giraffe death

14 March 2012

The tigers are emaciated and the 180 pelicans packed so tightly they cannot unfurl their wings without hitting a neighbor. Last week, a giraffe died with a beachball-sized wad of plastic food wrappers in its belly.

That death has focused new attention on the scandalous conditions at Indonesia's largest zoo. Set up nearly a century ago in one the most biologically diverse corners of the planet, it once boasted the most impressive collection in Southeast Asia.

But today the Surabaya Zoo is a nightmare, plagued by uncontrolled breeding, a lack of funding for general animal welfare and even persistent suspicions that members of its own staff are involved in illegal wildlife trafficking.

The rarest species, including Komodo dragons and critically endangered orangutans, sit in dank, unsanitary cages, filling up on peanuts tossed over the fence by giggling visitors.

"This is extremely tragic, but of course by no means surprising in Indonesia's zoos, given the appalling way they are managed on the whole," said Ian Singleton, a former zookeeper who now runs an orangutan conservation program on Sumatra island.

The zoo came under heavy fire two years ago following reports that 25 of its 4,000 animals were dying every month, almost all of them prematurely. They included an African lion, a Sumatran tiger and several crocodiles.

The government appointed an experienced zookeeper, Tony Sumampouw, to clean up the operation and he struggled, with some success, to bring the mortality rate down to about 15 per month.

But following last week's death of the 30-year-old giraffe "Kliwon" — who had for years been eating litter and trash thrown into its pen and was found with a 18-kilogram (40-pound) ball of plastic in its stomach — Sumampouw said he's all but given up.

Nothing short of a "total renovation" is needed, he said.

"We need to either think about privatizing or transferring out some of the animals."

With entrance fees of less than $2, critics say there's not enough money to care for the animals, much less invest in improving the zoo's facilities.

One of the biggest problems is overcrowding.

Whereas most zoos limit the number of animals born in captivity — taking into consideration how many can reasonably be cared for or exchanged with other zoos — the notion of "family planning" has not yet taken off here. Contraceptives are expensive and there are not adequate facilities to separate males and females. As result, species at the Surabaya zoo are bred to excess.

The 180 pelicans are kept in a pen the size of a volleyball court. Nearby, 16 tigers — 12 Sumatran and four Bengalese — are kept in a prison-like row of concrete cages.

One white tiger, whose parents were donated by the Indian government nearly 20 years ago, is now covered by skin lesions.

Let out so rarely, she suffers from back complications that make it difficult to just stand up, let alone walk, zoo curator Sri Pentawati said.

"There are too many tigers," she lamented. "We have a hard time rotating them out to get all the exercise they need."

Rahmat Shah — a well known big-game hunter with a museum in the city of Medan that is filled with rhinos, big cats and other animals he's shot around the world — currently heads Indonesia's National Zoo Association. He says none of the zoos run by the government are in good condition, but that Surabaya is especially troubled, due to a bitter internal rift.

Two men who each claimed to be the zoo's chief were fired several years ago, but their followers among the staff have continued the feud.

Police believe the poisoning death of a Javan warthog in January, found with traces of cyanide in its stomach, was linked to that conflict.

"One side is always trying to discredit the other," said Ludvie Achmad, head of a local conservation agency.

Sumampouw acknowledged he has had little success in controlling the undisciplined staff.

He said he believes some animals, including three young Komodos that disappeared last year, were stolen by caretakers and sold into the exotic pet trade.

Zookeepers also have been accused of taking meat meant for the tigers and selling it in the local market.
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Chlidonias · 14 Mar 2012

photos on this link including one of the overcrowded pelican enclosure referenced in the post above: Inside Indonesia's nightmare zoo (there are five photos and a 31 second video)

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Surabaya Zoo Surabaya Zoo troubles

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